Multiple acoustigraph



Dec. 25, 1934. E. s. HOPKINS MULTIPLE ACOUSTIGRAPH Filed July 15. 1929 3Sheets-Sheet l I b I. l

Fig.

Inventor:

Dec. 25, 1934. E. s. HOPKINS MULTIPLE ACOUSTIGRAPH Filed July 15, 1929 3Sheets-Sheet 2 lnve ntor:

Dec. 25, 1934. E. s. HOPKINS MULTIPLE ACOUSTIGRAPH Filed July 15, 1929 sSheets-Shed 5 Fig.8

Patented Dec; 25, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,985,253 MULTIPLEACOUSTIGRAPH Edwin S. Hopkins, New York, N. Y. Application July 15,1929, Serial No. 378,538

1': Claims.. (o1. 88-16.2)

The main purpose of my invention is to enable a group of actors andsingers to perform a text of words and music synchronously with theexhibition of a motion picture film of analogous subject matter. Such asynchronous performance may be delivered directly to the public, ortheir voices may be amplified and transmitted to an auditorium, or theirvoices may be broadcast and'received in a number of differentauditoriums where motion picture machines with duplicates of the filmmay be run synchronously, so that the one group of performers supplyvocal effects for many motion pictures simultaneously. Their voices mayalso be recorded on phonographs of any type.

My invention includes means of exhibiting to the performers the text tobe made audible which indicates to the performers the exact instant forthe utterance of each syllable and note. The text exhibiting apparatusis operated in synchronism with the cinematograph. In broadcasting theseveral cinematographs are run in synchronism with the broadcasting fromthe exhibiting machine.

As a variation of of a second between flhn and sound will destroy "theeffect of the synchronism, it is necessary that the performers be guidedwith the greatest exactness. I provide the means for doing this, ashereinafter explained in detail.

In carrying out my invention I find it generally desirable to employ theherein described apparatus, processes and manufactures, but it is to beunderstood that in carrying out the objects of my invention, less thanall the different means, mechanisms, processes and manufactures hereindescribed may be employed for some uses; or parts only may be employed;or other mechanisms, processes and manufactures similar may besubstituted, and while the preferred forms em bodying my invention are.shown, itis to be understood that many of the structural details may bevaried and many changes in details and steps resorted to, withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of my invention, nor do I limitmyself to the specific devices, manufactures and processes shown,although I believe them especially suited to the ends to be attained bymy invention.

In the accompanying drawings, which are largely diagramm'atical, andinwhich many parts are omitted from particular figures, and w hich arenot to be consideredas working drawings but'merely as illustrations ofthe principles of the invention; and which form a part hereof; and inwhich the same reference letters and nu;-

merals indicate the some or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus, showing controller unit 1and exhibitor units 2, 3 and 4; unit 2 being a front elevation with thecover on, unit 3 being a front elevation'with the cover cut away, andunit 4 being a vertical, cross sectional elevation on line CC of Fig. 2,as seen from the front;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of unit 4, as seen from the controller, withthe cover cut away;

Fig. 3 is a plan, showing unit 2 as seen from above, with its cover on;unit 3 as a sectional plan on line B.B of Fig. 2, and unit 4 is a planwith the upper part of the cover cut away;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the controller, looking towards theexhibitor units;

Fig. 5 is a plan of a strip of text for exhibition; with the indicatorplate shown;

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the apparatus and connections as it may be usedin a theatre;

Fig. '7 is a diagram of the apparatus and connections as it may be usedin broadcasting to multiple theatres; and

Fig. 8 is' a diagram of the apparatus as used for making phonographrecords.

It is to be noted that a greater or less number of the exhibitors units,as 2, 3 and 4, may be provided than the three shown.

Elements, such as a controller and one or more units may be located inwidely separated places, geographically, and the performers in onelocation may play certain roles and those in other citiesmay play theother roles, all being received in a central location and broadcasted tothe various theatres running the analogous motion picture. In this casethe controllers are run in synchronis'm and vocal effects aretransmitted to the central location, preferably by land wires, and thenbroadcasted, the various cinematographs running in synchronism with thecontrol-. ler units.

- Exhibitor units 2, 3 and 4 carry text exhibitor strips 7, 8 and9,.visible to performers through glass windows as 5, set in the upperfront part of covers, as 6. Text exhibitor strips '7, 8 and 9 bearswords and musical notations in accordahce with the work to bebroadcasted. Strip 9 is shown in detail in Fig. 5.

For the purpose of making exhibitor strips, pieces of fogged butundeveloped cinematograph film are useful, as it has sprocket feed holesand the emulsion takes ink. Or paper strips may be used when providedwith sprocket feed holes, as 10.

Strip 9 is drawn upwards along runway 11 and line at the proper momentfor utterance.

' scene.

passes under a semi-transparent or translucent reading-line plate 12,supported by the runway '11 at edge 13. Edge 14 of plate 12 is open toallow the film to be easily threaded into place from the side.

This text strip contains words for performers,

Was it? The next YES day.

The word next is about to pass under the lower edge 15 of reading-lineplate 12. The word next must be read exactly as it passes under thelower edge of the reading-line plate. In the case of words of severalsyllables, each syllable is separated and each passes under the reading-As speech runs up to 300 words per minute or five words per second, ifthey average three syllables there will be 15 syllables per second. Eachsyllabel takes of a second. If a displacement of of a second occurssynchronism is destroyed. It is clear, therefore, that the moment ofutterance of eachsyllable must be exactly indicated.

The words, was it? are the cue for the speech, The next day." The dottedlines indicate the omission of a portion of the previous speech. Thewords was it? are thus the signal for the next speaker to begin hisspeech.

The cue words may be .in a different color or in a different font oftype.

In the illustration'Fig. 5, the word The has already been spoken, and isshown in dotted lines as being under the semi-transparent plate 12. Thecue is shown at 16. The plate here indicated is of thick glass, thelower edge bevelled between lines 17 and 15. A paper-thin transparentplate may be used, such as transparent celluloid.

The word YES indicated in italics, is an interjection of anotherspeaker, to be spoken as the word passes under line 15. The word yes"may appear on the strip of another exhibitor unit. Placed on strip 9 itenables exhibitor unit 4 to be used by two speakers. Or if the speakerof the word Yes is using another strip, its presence on strip 9 willprevent thespeaker using strip 9 from being confused byan unexpectedinterpolation of another word in his speech.

A wider strip than indicated may be used, in which case the roles ofseveral speakers could be placed in separate columns, instead ofinterlarded, as next, Yes and day. The words of different speakers usingthe same strip may be in different colors or in different styles ofprint or script.

When three units are used with one speaker to each unit, two are idlewhile one is speaking. When the scene changes one or more of theperformers may 'not be required on the next They may then stand asideand allow the units to be used by other speakers. Thus one textual stripmay have the role of one player at one location, then display the ,roleof another player, and eventually go back to the role 'of the firstplayer. Thus two or more roles may speaker a great length of film stockwould be required, most of the strips being taken up with blank spaceswhile one player is speaking.

In case the performers are on the stage of a theatre behind or to oneside of the cinematograph screen, they may utter the sounds directly tothe audience. It is unnecessary for them to gaze at the screen itself,in fact impossible for them to get good results by doing so, as theycannot recognize the lip movements on the'screen until they are made,and it is then too late to utter the requisite sounds in synchronism.They must pay very close attention to the words passing under the stripto utter them at the proper instants. In case the voices are to beamplified and transmitted to a distance, the players may speak into themicrophones as 18, 19, 20, or one microphone may be provided for all.

It is extremely desirable for the performers to see the'words after theyhave passed the reading line, and to have some differentiation made inthe words after they have passed the reading line. If the wordsdisappeared under an opaque reading indicator a great deal ofuncertainty and confusion would exist and synchronism would be diflicultto maintain while unnatural effects of haste would be caused in voices.Thus the words being a little less distinct after passing under thereading-line but still being visible enables the perfbrmer to gauge withgreat exactness the instant of utterance. If the words were arrangedlongitudinally and the strip moved horizontally it would be impossibleto maintain synchronism, exactly, as the passing of the words andsyllables longitudinally would not be with the same exactness, as aconsiderable interval would exist between the beginning and end of theword and the performer could not time perfectly, as is possible when thewords are arranged on a strip moving vertically.

It is also of great importance to have the strip move at a certainspeed, approximately 22 feet per minute, or one-fourth the speed of thecinematograph film. If the strip were made as long as a cinematographfilm, the words would be at a considerable distance apart and would moveso rapidly as not to be easily distinguished. If the strip were made tomove at say 10 feet per minute, they would pass the reading-line soslowly that the proper instant of utterance could not be selected by theperformer. A factor, of course-is the actual size of the words on thestrip; if the words he made smaller a shorter film strip may be used.The proportions indicated in the drawings are the happy medium which itis necessary to attain to insure success. As but a difference of of asecond too soon or too late is enough to destroy the effect ofsynchronism, the discovery of the proper proportions, speeds andarrangement of the text strip is one of importance, which requiredactual reduction to practice to isolate.

In order to position the words on the text strip at the properlocations, the talking motion picture may be made and then thecinematograph film and sound record are run "simultaneously inconnection with ablank strip run at one fourth the velocity of thecinematograph film. As the .words are heard they may be marked down onthe blank strip. This is a tedious process. The marking may also beassisted by observation of the individual frames of the cinematographfilm and microscopic examination of the sound. record. The preciselocation of the words may thus be ascertained. From the first text stripmade negative and positives may be made by photographic-processes. 7

My invention provides means for operating a plurality of such textstrips in synchronism with a cinematograph film,- and also means forbringing the strips into synchronism with the film should theyaccidentally get out of synchronism.

Central standard 21 is mounted on base 22, and carries the apparatus.Cover 6 is placed over the apparatus to deaden sounds of mechanism. Themicrophone 20 may be placed on the cover or may be separately supported,as by being suspended from overhead.

The units 2, 3 and 4 are identical in construction and most of theirparts are given the same reference numerals. Shaft 23 of unit 4 drivesits apparatus. Shaft 23 is journalled in standard 21 and in standard 24and its lug 25, of the controller 1. Shaft 23 carries mitre gear 26which engages mitre gear 27 on shaft 28 journalled in lugs 29, 30, 31. w

Shaft 28 also carries mitre gear 32 which engages -mitre gear 33 onshaft 34, journalled in lugs 30, 35. Shaft 34 carries mitre gear 36,which engages mitregear 37 .on shaft 38 journalled in standard 21. Onthe right hand side of standard 21 as regarded in the drawings shaft 23carries feed sprocket 39 for strip 9, while in the same position shaft38 carries feed sprocket 40, which draws the strip upfrom the reelbelow.

Runway guide pillar 11 constitutes the upper part of standard 21 andstrip 9 passes from sprocket'40 up under plate 12 and over the roundedtop of the pillar 11, and is drawn down by sprocket 39; the rotation ofwhich in a counterclockwise direction causes this to take place.Sprocket 40 also rotates in a counterclockwise direction and at the samespeed as sprocket 39, and the strip is threaded taut between them. Itthus passes under plate 12 at the speed determined by the sprockets-Jockey rollers to hold strip 9 in place on the sprockets may be providedif desired.

The lower end of shaft 28 carries mitre gear 41, which meshes with mitre.gear 42 rotating on stud 43 set in standard 21. Integral with mitregear 42 is a spur gear portion 44, rotating in a well in standard 21,and engaging spur gear 45, which is in a similar well and is mounted onspindle 46, journalled in 21. The other end of spindle 46 carrieswinding reel holder 47 for winding the slack of text strip 9 after itpasses sprocket 39.

Shaft 34 carries mitre gear 48, which engages mitre gear 49 on shaft 50,journalled in lug 35 and lug 51. mitre gear 52, which engages mitre gear53, mounted on shaft 54, journalled in standard 21. The other end ofshaft 54 carries winding reel holder 55. When the apparatus is inoperation, as reel holder 47 winds reel holder 55 unwinds. The gearingwould indicate that these speeds are equal, but the holders are mountedfrictionally on the shafts so that the differences in diameters of thestrip may be accounted for.

a Side 56 of cover 6 is readily removable so that new reels may beinserted. By reversing the machine the strips may be re-.wound on theinitial reel holders, or the strips may be threaded between reels 55 and47 and re-wound without passing over pillar 11. Or the re-winding may beaccomplished after the reel holders are removed.-

Should any special signals be desired to be sent at selected locationson the text strip, means are provided therefor, illustrated' onlyin-Fig. 2.

The lower end of shaft 50 carries described planetary system.

Roller 57 is carried in rigid standard 58 mounted on standard 21. Roller59 is carried on flexible standard 60 mounted on standard 21. Electricalswitch flexible contacts 61 are connected to any circuit desired fromterminals 62. Protuberance 63 is attached to text strip 9 where desired.Whenit passes between rollers 57 and 59, stand ard 60 is forced to theright as regarded in Fig. 2, and effects an electrical contact at 61.Instead of a protuberance at 63 an aperture may be made in the strip,and well known means utilized for making an electrical contact.

instruments to be made and as signals to the performers, etc.

Rollers 57-59 also serve as a guide to lead strip 9 to sprocket 39.

As seen in plan, Fig. 3, the exhibitor stands 2,

3 and 4 are staggered. This allows shafts 23, 64 and 65 to reachstandard 24. Additional exhibitor stands may be provided by enlargingthe controller to provide for them.

The controller apparatus is mounted on standard24, supported on base 66,and having rear wall 67, and other walls and ceiling not indicated. Thecontroller apparatus is thus isolated from the microphones acoustically.

Motor 68 mounted on pedestal 69 has main shaft 70, to which is afilxedspur gear 71, engaging the external teeth of an internal-external spurgear 72, which is the first member of a planetary gear system. Spur gear73 is mounted L on shaft 74 and its hub serves as an axis for spur gear72. Thus 72 and 73 are concentric. Gear 73 is fixed to shaft 74. Mountedon the end of shaft 74 as an axis about which it turns freely is arm 75,this arm thus being concentric with' tion of arm 75 thus serves to alterthe angular I attitude of motor shaft and driven shaft 74. If rotatedduring operation the speed of 74 as regards 70 is altered. Thus if motor68 isrunning synchronously with a. cinematograph, but for some reasonthe text strips are ahead or behind, the rotation of arm in onedirection or the other will correct such a discrepancy.

Shaft 74 is journalled in lug and also in standards 81, 82 attached tobase plate 66. Shaft 74 carries worm gears 83, 84, 85 aifixed to it,which engage spur gears 86, 87, 88, mounted to rotate on studs afiixedto plate 25. drive shafts 23, 64, 65 respectively, each through aplanetary system, the parts of which are numbered alike, and similar tothe previously Internal-external gears as 89 are driven by engagement oftheir outer teeth with spur gears as 88. Spur gears as 90 affixed to theends of shafts as 23, 64, 65 have hubs which serve as axes forinternal-external gears as 89, which are thus concentric with spur gearsas 90. Arms as 91 are mounted on the ends of shafts as 23, freelyrotating thereon, and have studs which carry spur gears as 92. Gear 92meshes with the teeth of spur gear 90 and with i'he circuit so completedmay be used for a variety of.

These spur gears.

. asagna the internal teeth of spur gear 89. Arm 91 may be manuallyrotated, and is held in any desired position by stop-plunger 93, havingknob 94, containing a spring forcing plunger 93 against plate lug 25.Arm 91 thus carries gear 92 as a planet about gear 90 as a sun, and therotation of arm 91 thus changes the angular attitude of shafts as 23,64, in respect to shaft 74, each independently of the others, .or if 91is rotated during operation, shafts 23, 64, 65 may be made to go fasteror slower as regards shaft 74 than their usual speed in respect to 74.being separably operable, text strips 7, 8, 9 of the various exhibitorstands may be independently advanced or retarded as regards the others.Thus if a mistake is made in threading, or if one of the speakers ischaracteristically slowor fast as compared with the others, suitableadjustments may be made. 1 The planetary systems of shafts 23. 64, 65are similar in construction to that of shafts 7470, although other formsof altering the angular attitudes of the respective shafts may beemployed if desired.

Motor 68 has terminals 95, which are power leads or which may connect itwith a synchronous cinematograph motor.

Shaft 70 journalled in the motor and in lug carries mitre gear 96 whichengages mitre gear 97 on the upper end of shaft 98, journalled in lug 99and in apparatus 100, with terminals lol. This may be, as the situationdemands, a broadcasting apparatus for broadcasting to control a distantcinematograph motor, or it may be a means of regulating motor 68, or ameans of regulating. a cinematograph motor located in the vicinity.

When-three or more performers are performing before the exhibitor units,if all the text strips are run continuously there will be long stretchesof blank strip on two of the units while the third is being spoken from.My invention provides means for stopping and re-starting individual textstrips while the other or others are advancing. This prevents the wasteof strip material which would otherwise be necessary.

To accomplish this I provide a supplementary strip 102 having aperturesat selected points in sets of two rows each; one set for each textstrip. Apertures in one row are used to stop the text strip andapertures in the other row to re-start it. Strip 102 is advanced bysprocket roller 103 fixed on shaft 74. Afiixed to end of shaft 74 is amitre gear 104 which engages mitre gear 105 on the upper end of shaft106, journalled in lugs 107, 108, and carrying on its lower end mitregear 109 engaging mitre gear 110 on the end'of shaft 111, which isjournalled in standards 81, 82 and upon which is mounted strip holder112. Shaft-106 also carries mitre gear 113 engaging mitre gear 114, onthe end of shaft 115, journalled in lugs 116,117, and carrying on itsother end mitre gear 118, engaging mitre gear 119 on the end of shaft120, which is journalled in standards 81, 82 and upon whichds mountedstrip holder 121.

Thus the rotation of shaft 74 causes roller 103 to unroll strip 102 fromholder 121 and holder 112 to roll up the slack. Shafts 111 and 120 arefrictionally connected to strip holders 112 and 121 to accommodatedifferences in diameter of the rolls as they roll and unroll.

Control strip is provided with three pairs of brushes mounted on anangle lug attached to 24. Electric brushes 122 and 123; 124 and 125, and126 and 127 are provided with terminals, while sprocket roller 103 has acommon terminal 128 The arms, as 91,

for them. When an aperture in strip 102, as 129, passes under brush 122an electrical circuitis completed through 128 and the remainder of thecircuit provided. This circuit is broken as soon as the aperture passesfrom under the brush.

Electro-magnets 130 and 131, 132 and 133, and 134 and 135 are provided,connected respectively to brushes, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126 and 127.Their circuits return through batteries not indicated to terminal 128.Each of the three sets of magnets is provided with a lever armature,136, 138, pivoted on studs in standard 24. Critical line springs 139,140, 141 are provided for the armature levers, one end attached to pinon the lever and the other to a peg in standard 24. They are so arrangedthat they will hold the levers in whichever attitude they are left bythe last attraction of the magnets.

On the strip 102 uniformly dotted iines indi. cate a space during whichthe text strip is being moved, while chain dotted lines indicate spacesduring which the corresponding text strip is inactive or stopped.

- As viewed in Fig. 'stri'p 102 is moved ,upward. Dotted lines 142, 143indicate that two speakers are speaking simultaneously. Chain dottedline 144 indicates that one speaker is at that time silent; that is thetext strip is-not moving. When holes 129, 145 are reached, text strips 7and 8 are stopped. Strip 9 being already stopped a period of silenceensues. When hole 146 is reached strip 7 begins again. When holes147,148 are reached strip 7 stops and strip 8 continues stopped whilestrip 9 begins to move. When holes 149, are reached, strip 8 begins tomove, strip 9 stops and strip 7 remains stopped.

Electrical contact switches are shown at 151, 152, 153. The upper arms,as 154 of the armature levers have blades for closing these contacts. Inthe attitude shown by the armature levers all the strips are moving.

When hole 129 is reached magnet 130 draws armature lever over and makescontactat 151. This causes strip. 7 to stop, as explained later.

Text strip 7 remains stopped as long as contact at 151 exists. Thisperiod of silence is indicated by chain dotted line 155. When aperture146 is reached magnet 131 functions and contact at 151 is broken, andstrip 7 begins to move again,

until hole 147 is reached when magnet 130 functions and draws armatureover to contact at 151 and text strip 7 is again stopped.

Text strip 8 is stopped by hole 145 reachingbrush 124, which operatesmagnet 132. Hole 149 starts text strip 8 going again. Chain dot- 4 tedline 144 indicates that text strip 9 is stopped until hole 148 isreached, when strip 9 starts again and continues moving until hole 150is reached when it is stopped by the action of magnet 134. Thus each ofthe pairs of rows of holes controls a speaker text strip, which startsand,

stops as indicated by the location of the holes -on the contact strip102.

Lever armatures have blades as 156 to make contacts. When they returnthey come to rest against peg stops as 157. Polarized magnets may alsobe used in place of magnets shown if desired.

Control of text strips 7, 8, 9 by strip 102 is efiectedas follows:Electro-magnets 158, 159,

160are provided, mounted on standard 24, with terminals as 161, and witharmatures 162, 163, 164 mounted on levers pivoted on spindle 165,supported by wing lugs 166, 167 in lug standard 25. The lower end, as168, of the armature to it collar 174 bearing against lug 25. Clutchmember 173 is moved back and forth by the action of the electro magnetand the spring 171, in opposition thereto.

Switches 151, 152, 153 are connected to magnets 160, 159, 158respectively. When switch 151 is open shaft 65 is in operation and textstrip '7 is moving. When switch 151 is closed magnet 160 functions aridthe clutch is opened,- shaft 65 and text strip 7 coming to' rest. Thisis made positive by bell crank lever 1'75, pivoted at 176 and-havingprongs engaging lower end of magnet lever branch 170, so that when themagnet lever functions brake 177 of lever is pushed against clutchmember172 and stops it. When switch 151 flies open this braking action ceasesand the clutch members are drawn together again by spring 1'71, and textstrip '7 begins to move again. As noted, by suitable arrangements ofapertures in 102 all the strips may be simultaneously brought to a stopor set moving, or any one or more than one may be made to move asdesired.

Switches 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183 are provided. Lever arms 136, 137,138 are provided with double sided blades as 184, so that when lever 136is in the left position its blade completes contact of switch 178, andwhen in the right position it completes contact of blade switch 179.These switches have terminals as 185. Switch 178 is connected to a whitelight lamp 186 on unit 2 and 179 is connected to a red light lamp 187 onunit 2. Thus the white lamp remains lighted while strip 7 is running andthe red light remains lit and the white light goes out when strip 7 isstopped. The other pairs of switches are similarly connected to whiteand red lamps on units 3 and 4.

Green light lamp 188, violet light lamp 189, yellow light lamp 190 andblue light lamp 191 are provided, positioned in view of the speakers oneach unit. They are connected with electric circuits leading to pushbuttons, which may be operated by a' supervisor in the audience. He mayfrom time to time flash any of the lamps as instructions to theperformers. Thus a green light flashing may indicate to the speaker asignal to speak more slowly, violet to speak more rapidly, yellow tospeak louder and blue to speak more softly..

Fig. 6 is a diagram of connections for use in a theatre. cinematograph192 with lamphouse 193 casts images on screen 194. Units 2, 3; 4 andcontroller 1 are behind the screen on the stage, and microphones18, 19,20 deliver sound impulses to amplifier 195 and horn 196 delivers soundto the'auditorium. Electrical leads 197 go to motor 198 at cinematograph192 and keep controller 1 and cinematograph 192 in synchronousoperation,current coming from any common source as 199. A supplementary set ofunits, 2, 3, 4 are provided near the cinematograph with con,

troller 1 connected mechanically to the cinematograph byv shaft 200 orshaft 201, or other con-. venient means. Broken-oil ends of shafts 70and 74 as seen in Fig. 4 may be utilized for this purpose. Thecinematograph motor 198 may operate both the cinematograph andcontroller 1, or the controller motor 68 may operate both,

Fig. 7 indicates a broadcasting arrangement. Controller 1 is fed frommains 203, and speakers 0 at units 2, 3, 4 deliver sound to themicrophones 18, 19, 20, from which impulses are broadcast bybroadcasting station 204, which may be near at hand or at any convenientdistance and reached by land wires. Broadcasting so sent received inantennae 205 and receiving station 206, and amplified by 207 isdelivered to the -'audience. Meanwhile broadcast station 208 broadcastsa .wave at 209 that is received on. antennae 210 and receiving station211. Current from mains 212 operates motor 198, which is controlled insynchronism with controller 1 by apparatus 211. This wave is of the kindused .in television broadcasting. However, cinematograph 192 may bycareful operation be run in synchronism with controller 1 without suchbroadcast connection and control. Thus if the cinematograph is startedinsynchronism'with controller 1 it will project images synchronous withthe sounds coming by broadcasting. Instead of the waves coming throughthe air they may be received in land wires by wired wireless, such aspower, telephone or telegraph wires. Any number of theatres may besupplied with broadcasted sounds to synchronize with cinematographfilms, it being only necessary to start the cine-- matographs at thewith identical films.

In connection with controller 1 a phonograph is provided, as 213,adapted to be operated in synchronism with the controller by mechanicalconnection or otherwise. If it is a disc record phonograph an electricalpick up of the customary kind is provided, with leads 214 to thebroadcasting apparatus 204. Thus the phonograph record may supplyelectrical impulses to be broadcasted, or sent by wired wireless as thecase may be. The impulses iromthe phonograph may be interpolated betweenthe utterances of the speakers, or may be'employed separately. Any typeof phonograph may be used, such as cylindrical, disc or tape, or eventhe phonograph record alongside a motion picture film on the edge of thefilm. As such a film track is already synchronized with the film, it isparticularly well adapted to be used for broadcasting purposes wheresimilar films are in the several cinematoap s- The cinematographs may bekept in synchronism by impulses from land wire, wireless, or timingdevices locally-positioned to give them an exact speed, the phonographbeing similarly given an exact speed at a definite ratio with that ofthe cinematographs,

Figure 8 is a diagram of apparatus and connections for use in makingphonograph records that will be synchronous with motion picture films ofanalogous optical effects.

' -,Cinematograph 215 with lamphouse 216 casts proper time, beingthreaded images on screen 217. Units 2, 3, 4 and controller 1 are on theleft of the cinematograph in the figure of drawing and microphones 18,

control of gears, one for each unit;

19 and as receive sound from speakers and deliver correspondingelectrical variations to the phonograph electrical amplifier 218,through electrical leads 21.9. Recording disc 220 is engraved by stylus221, operated by electrical impulses and variations from amplifier 218.I

Phonograph operating unit 222 causes disc 220 to be rotated. It receiveselectrical current for power purposes from mains 223. it sends currentto motor 224 through leads 225. Motor 224 is in mechanical connectionwith unit 1 and cinematograph 215 and operates them, 222 and 224 beingso connected electrically as to operate at a selected ratio of speed.The connection between the motor and the unit 1 and cinemato graph 215may be electrical instead of mechanical ii desired.

A supplementary set of units 2', 3' and i are supplied on the right ofthe cinematograph, the

unit 1 thereof being mechanically coupled to the cinematcgraph 215, byshaft 226. Shait 201 may be utilized for this purpose, or shaft 200,being the ends shown broken on" in l of shafts and we respectively.

Electrical leads 22'7-228 carry electric varia= tions from. microphonesl8, l9 and 20 to phonograph amplifier 218 ior'recording on disc 220.These variations may be recorded coincidentally with those -irom.microphones 18, 19 and 20, or otherwise than coincidentally.

Leads 219-229 carry electricm variations irom microphones i2, 19 and 20to loud speaker unit are, with horn 231. Leads 22'l-232 carry currentvariations from microphones l 3 l9 and 20 to the loud speaker unit 230.

The speakers at units 2, 3 and l ma l ok. the cinematograph image onscreen 21'? n desired or this he used for the convenience of thedirector or the actors.

"Units 2, 3 and l may be placed bacl: of the screen ii desired. If thescreen is translucent they may look at the image on the back if desired.

The recording of the phonograph may be car ried out by the use of units2, 3 and i and associated parts, without the use of the cinemato graph,loud speaker or supplementary units 2, 3 and i. Usually the loudspeakeris not used in recording use.

Although the phonograph recorder is linked electrically with motor 224,which operates controller 1, it may be directly connected eithermechanically or electrically with controller 1, by passing the motor, inwhich case the cinemato graph would not be utilized.

A disc phonograph is shown but it is to be un derstood that ribbon ortape forms of phonograph, or magnetic or photographic phonographs may beused or any form whatever oi phonographic recording.

What I claim is:

l. in a textual strip exhibitor comprisinga plurality oi exhibitor unitswith sprocket shafts to a control unit, a control unit thereforcomprising a source of power; a common power transmitting shaft totransmit power to such individual units; a planetary gear systemintermediate such source of power and such common transmitting shaft,manually operable and adapted to effect changes of selected extent intheir angular attitudes; such power transmitting shaft fitted with aplurality a plurality of sprocket shafts extending between suchexhibitor units and such control unit, one for eachexhibitor unit; aplurality of systems of planetary gears, between such transmitting shaftand such exhibitor units, one for each unit, manually operable andadapted to efiect changes of desired extents in the angular attitudes ofthe transmitting shaft and the several sprocket shafts independently.

2. In the artof making a sound record by a plurality of performershaving different response reaction times to stimuli synchronous with aseparately made motion picture film of analogous subject matter meansadapted to indicate to each of said performers selected moments in timefor their making of selected sounds to be recorded comprising aplurality of movable exhibitor strips of an interchangeable characterbearing words or signals thereon at selected intervals, one strip foreach performer, means to advance said strips simultaneously at aselected relation to each other in the view of the performers and meansadapted to vary said relation of said strips as respects the strip ofone performer or the strips of more than one performer relative to thestrip of another periormer or the strips of other performers whereby tocompensate ior their different response reaction times to stimuli, andmeans adapted to record sounds made by said performers.

3. A synchronous textual strip exhibitor of the class describedcomprising a plurality of interchangeable synchronous textual stripshaving words disposed thereon across theiriength and not parallelthereto, said strips making up the several rolesoi a complete text, andmeans adept ed to erinibit to a plurality of performers the words andsymbols of their respective roles synchronously 7 the projection of amotion. picture of analog subject matter, said synchronous exhibitingmeans comprising means for moving said strips simultaneously and passingsaid words and symbols under a translucent or semi-transparent substancehaving an initial edge, said initial edge so placed as to indicate themoment of synchronization for the utterance of sounds 'to synchronizewith said motion picture.

The matter of claim 2 comprising in addition one or more microphonesadapted to transform sound waves from the utterance of the speakersguided by the said textual strips into electrical variations, meansadapted to amplify said variations and means adapted to transform saidampliiied variations into sound effects.

5. A synchronous textual strip exhibitor of the class described having aplurality of units, each unit adapted to exhibit to a performer one ofa. plurality of interchangeable synchronous textual strips, said striphaving words disposed thereon across its length and not parallelthereto, said strips of the several units making up the complete textfor a plurality of performers, one for each unit; said units adapted tobe driven from a common source of power, and manually operable meansintermediate said power source and said units adapted to effect changes,to selected extents at selected times in the angular attitude of saidpower source to the angular attitude of said unit strip driverssimultaneously and to the same degree for each unit.

6. A synchronous textual strip exhibitor of the class described having aplurality of units, each unit adapted to exhibit to one of a pluralityof performers one of a plurality of interchangeable synchronous textualstrips, said strips having words disposed thereon across its length andnot parallel thereto, said strips of the several units making up thecomplete text for the said plurality of periormers, one performer foreach unit; said units adapted to be driven in unison from a commonsource of power; a transmitting member between said power source andsaid units comprising a common transmitting means and a connectiontherefrom to each of said units adapted to drive all of said units inunison, and a plurality of manually operable means, one for each unit,intermediate its said connection to said common transmitting means,adapted upon individual manual operation to eifect changes to selectedextents in the angular attitude of said unit driving means to saidcommon transmitting means, independently of the remaining units.

7. The matter of claim 6 comprising positioned between two portions ofthe said transmitting member and connecting them between the said powersource and said connections to said units a system of planetary gearsincluding a planetary member, a sun member and other customary parts ofsuch a system, said planetary member manually displaceablecircumferentially around said sun gear, whereby to effect changes ofselected extent in the angular attitudes of the two portions of thetransmitting member between which said planetary gear system ispositioned.

8. The matter of claim 6 having a transmitting member from a powersource and a plurality of connections therefrom to a plurality of unitsfor speakers, a plurality of planetary gear systems intermediate saidtransmitting member and said units, one system for each unit, eachsystem having a planetary member and a sun member and other customaryparts of such a system, said planetary member manually displaceablecircumferentially around its sun gear, whereby to effect changes ofselected extent in the angular attitude of said transmitting member tosaid unit connection, each planetary system independent of the other.

9. Atextual strip exhibitor of the class described adapted for theguidance of aplurality of speakers comprising a plurality of-units, eachof said units including a vertically positioned guideway for a textualstrip adapted to bear horizontally positioned words and'symbols, astationary indicator positioned on said guideway to indicate toperformers the moment of utterance; sprockets and associated meansadapted to feed said textual strip through said guideway and meansadapted to operate said sprockets and textual strips of the severalunits in unison synchronously; the said units positioned in a staggeredmanner front to rear as viewed in plan; said units having sprockets forthe feeding of textual strips and shafts therefor, with a control unitat the side, said shafts adapted to derive driving power from saidcontrol unit and each sprocket shaft positioned to reach its unitwithout passing through any other unit by reason of the staggeredposition of said units.

' 10. In a text exhibitor of the class described having a plurality ofexhibitor units each adapted to display to a speaker or performer matterto be uttered, said matter on an interchangeable textual strip adaptedto progress vertically, an utterance moment indicator for each unitstextual strip comprising translucent material, the initial edge of whichis adapted to be the utterance moment indicator, and the translucentquality adapted to indicate to the performer the words or symbolsalready uttered without withdrawing tfiem wholly from his vision uponutterance.

, 11. In a text exhibitor of the class described, for the guidance ofspeakers, comprising a plurality of units adapted to exhibit to speakerswords and symbols to be uttered, and a control unit of the classdescribed adapted to control the several speaker units, aninterchangeable control strip of the class described, means adapted toadvance.

said control strip at a predetermined ratio of speed as respects thespeed of the transmitting shaft common to the several speaker units;apertures in said control strip at selected locations; electrical meansadapted to start and stop the sprocket shafts of said speaker units,comprising a clutch on said shaft adapted to start and stop one sectionof said shaft as respect the other, an electro-magnet adapted to operatesaid clutch; electrical brushes adapted to bear on said control strip,and electrical connections and current between said brushes and saidmagnets whereby said clutches are operated by the passage of saidapertures of said control strip past said brushes, whereby to start andstop said exhibitor strips at selected locations for selected periods oftime during operation by reason of the tures.

12. In a control unit as set forth in claim 11, sets of tandemelectrical circuits, the first circuit of a set comprising a pair ofmagnets with a common armature pivoted between them, fitted with acritical line spring adapted to hold such magnet armature in theattitude to which it is last drawn by one of the magnets; a pair ofbrushes for a pair of lines of apertures in said control strip, onebrush adapted to close the circuit of one magnet on the passage of anaperture and the other brush adapted to close the circuit of the othermagnet upon the passage of an aperture; whereby to throw the armaturelever from side to side; the second circuit of said tandem circuitcomprising a switch opened or closed by the operation of the armaturelever of the pair of magnets of the first circuit, and a magnet adaptedto operate the clutch of the sprocket shaft, whereby to open saidsprocket shaft clutch upon the turning on of current in the secondcircuit and to allow it to close upon. the turning off of current, andsources of current for said tandem circuits.

13. In combination a cinematograph in mechanical connection with amultiple unit text exhibitor of the class described, so disposed thatthe cinematograph may exhibit upon a screen before an audience andperformers may appear to have their voices accompany synchronously suchmotion picture projection; means whereby said cinematograph may beoperated at a fixed ratio of speed as compared with said text exhibitor;manually operable means adapted to change said ratio of speed toselected extents at selected locations; said text exhibitor adapted toexhibit different texts to a plurality of performers, the severaldifferent texts of which make up the whole text of the performance, andmeans whereby the ratio of speed of exhibition of any individual textmay be changed to a selected extent for a selected time as compared withthe cinematograph speed independently of the ratio of speed of any othertext or texts.

14. The matter of claim 9 when comprising in connection therewith acinematograph synchronously coupled therewith, whereby said textualstrips and a cinematograph film of analogous subject matter may beadvanced synchronously.

15. The matter of claim 9 when comprislngin connection therewith aphonograph recording apparatus coupled therewith, and means whereby theutterances of speakers guided by said textual strips are recordedphonographically by said connection therewith a cinematographsynchroncusly coupled therewith, whereby said textual strips and acinematograph film of analogous subject matter may be advancedsynchronously and when comprising in addition in connection therewith aphonograph recording apparatus coupled with said textual stripexhibitor, and means whereby the utterances of speakers guided by said.textual strips are recorded phonographically by said phonographrecording apparatus, synchronously with the advance or saidcinematograph film.

17. The matter of claim 3 comprising in addimemes tion one or moremicrophones adapted to transform sound waves from the utterance of thespeakers guided by the said textual strips into electrical variations,means adapted to amplify said variations, means adapted to transformsaid amplified variations into sound effects, and branch orsupplementary means adapted to transform said amplified variations intorecorded sound waves in a phonograph record comprising a phonographrecording apparatus adapted therefor.

EDWIN HOPKINS.

